Franklin Delano Roosevelt Life: January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Presidential Terms: March 3, 1933 - January 19, 1937 (VP: John N. Garner)
January 20, 1937 – January, 19 1941 (VP: Henry A. Wallace)
January 20, 1945 – (Death) April 12, 1945 (VP: Harry Truman) Thesis Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was one of the most influential presidents that has ever overseen the workings of our nation. He paved the battered and beaten road that workers too long were forced to stagger upon. He delved deeper to develop social programs that created work for many lower and middle class Americans and provided the proletariat with a means of survival in America as it was being overwhelmed with economic depression and capitalist endeavors that took advantage of these workers. He also saw the beginning of the second World War and tried to develop as many means as possible to remain uninvolved until absolutely necessary. Although many would contest
that he spent too much money on these ventures, I give FDR an A+ as the 32nd president of the United States. Roosevelt’s Goals for the Presidency Roosevelt came into the presidency with many goals towards social reform. He saw the need for reform as the depression was in full swing. He saw that the role of government is to assist the people when they are in a state of despair with the conditions that America provides. He started his presidency by closing the banks from March 6, 1933 until March 12, 1933 in order to do serious reconstruction to the deteriorating American banking system. He reconstructed the banks and reaffirmed the faith of the people in those banks, so they immediately began to deposit money into the banks one more. Shortly after, the New York Stock Exchange recorded the largest price increase in American history. He then proceeded forward with his 100 Days Congress in which the very pro-Roosevelt democratic Congress helped put into effect many acts to get the American public back to work. This was the very beginning of the New Deal that FDR had campaigned under for so long. Some of the other programs that he went forward to create were the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Works Progress Administration, the Glass-Steagall Act and the Federal Emergency Relief Act. The CCC and the Works progress Administration both employed millions of people collectively and put them to work in construction and conservation work, as well as literary work in the arts. Although many argued that these were unnecessary it employed the unemployed and gave money to families that were much in need. The Glass-Steagall Act was one of many that was made to help the failing American banking system. With this act people now had insurance on the money that they deposited in banks so people had more faith in the system than they had previously. Americans were now more likely to put their money into banks so that it would be insured instead of keeping it at home in a personal safe. The Federal Emergency Relief Act was by far the most controversial however. It distributed millions of government dollars to American families that were unemployed. In doing this however it gave those with no means of survival a chance at finding work and with a means of providing food for their loved ones until that work could be found. It pinpointed the overall gesture of FDR’s idea, that the government should not be out to make life more difficult for the people, but to provide for the people when the conditions in which they are living are substandard. He also went forward with repealing prohibition. This was another large step for Americans because it took the alcohol trade out of the hands of criminals and organized crime, and then put it back into the hands of the American government with taxes placed upon it. As war began across the Atlantic, Roosevelt also took measures to maintain the historic American isolationist spirit. He passed the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936 and 1937 in order to give us a stance of just that, neutrality. It barred trade with warring nations and made it illegal for Americans to be on a vessel of a nation at war. This received much controversy as it limited one of the principles of America, freedom of the seas. Some of these did work somewhat counterproductively, but it was the only way to keep America out of the war for as long as possible. On top of all of this FDR even suggested a second Bill of Rights for the American people to protect worker’s rights. These rights were as follows: The right to have a job in one of Americas industries; the right to a fair wage for food, clothing, and recreation; the right for a farmer to sell his crops at a reasonable and family sustainable price; the right of all business people to trade without fear of monopolies; the right to a decent home; the right to proper healthcare; government aid in old age, sickness or unemployment; and most importantly, the right to a proper education. This was never seen through as he proposed it in 1944 and died in 1945 but it certainly shows the ambitions of our 32nd president. Roosevelt’s Congressional Relationship
Roosevelt had the luxury of enjoying a Democratic majority in Congress for the entirety of his presidency. They supported almost all of his endeavors and made it possible for many of the social programs he suggested to be realized. This is very clearly reflected in the Hundred Days Congress when many of the initial New Deal Programs were passed. Most of FDR’s opposition came from a conservative Supreme Court. So radical had they become at one point, that Roosevelt suggested adding additional members for all of the older members. Although this measure was declined it brought the issue into light and the Supreme Court began to become more lenient towards Roosevelt’s suggestions. Besides that however Roosevelt’s Congress was practically his. He had much support from Congress and the people were for the most part happy with the measures that were passed. Roosevelt’s pen had seen 635 bills by the time he passed away.
Positive and Negative Impacts of the Roosevelt Administration There were very few negative impacts of the Roosevelt administration. It started the rise out of the Great Depression and aided all of those in the country that were feeling it the hardest. He passed legislation to help all of those in need and made a serious impact on the people of this country and presidencies for the next 40 years until Reagan destroyed the memory. He helped reinvent the faith of the people in government and fought the oppressive capitalist machine that had sent the economy into the plummet that it was now feeling. He employed millions, helped the economy and guided us through the vast majority of the Second World War. One of the largest impacts he made for posterity was the Social Security Act helping those over 65 with federal aid. This is starting to die out now, but it still exists. Conclusion Roosevelt did everything he could to aid the American people and guided us through the most troubling of times. He paved a new road for the workers and gave them the ability to survive in a country that was not providing for them. He was the ideal president for this era in American history, and from the time of his inauguration gave his entire life to the role of president. In full, I reaffirm that Roosevelt deserves an A+ as the 32nd president of the United States of America.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Life: January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Presidential Terms: March 3, 1933 - January 19, 1937 (VP: John N. Garner)
January 20, 1937 – January, 19 1941 (VP: Henry A. Wallace)
January 20, 1945 – (Death) April 12, 1945 (VP: Harry Truman)
Thesis
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was one of the most influential presidents that has ever overseen the workings of our nation. He paved the battered and beaten road that workers too long were forced to stagger upon. He delved deeper to develop social programs that created work for many lower and middle class Americans and provided the proletariat with a means of survival in America as it was being overwhelmed with economic depression and capitalist endeavors that took advantage of these workers. He also saw the beginning of the second World War and tried to develop as many means as possible to remain uninvolved until absolutely necessary. Although many would contest
that he spent too much money on these ventures, I give FDR an A+ as the 32nd president of the United States.
Roosevelt’s Goals for the Presidency
Roosevelt came into the presidency with many goals towards social reform. He saw the need for reform as the depression was in full swing. He saw that the role of government is to assist the people when they are in a state of despair with the conditions that America provides. He started his presidency by closing the banks from March 6, 1933 until March 12, 1933 in order to do serious reconstruction to the deteriorating American banking system. He reconstructed the banks and reaffirmed the faith of the people in those banks, so they immediately began to deposit money into the banks one more. Shortly after, the New York Stock Exchange recorded the largest price increase in American history. He then proceeded forward with his 100 Days Congress in which the very pro-Roosevelt democratic Congress helped put into effect many acts to get the American public back to work. This was the very beginning of the New Deal that FDR had campaigned under for so long. Some of the other programs that he went forward to create were the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Works Progress Administration, the Glass-Steagall Act and the Federal Emergency Relief Act. The CCC and the Works progress Administration both employed millions of people collectively and put them to work in construction and conservation work, as well as literary work in the arts. Although many argued that these were unnecessary it employed the unemployed and gave money to families that were much in need. The Glass-Steagall Act was one of many that was made to help the failing American banking system. With this act people now had insurance on the money that they deposited in banks so people had more faith in the system than they had previously. Americans were now more likely to put their money into banks so that it would be insured instead of keeping it at home in a personal safe. The Federal Emergency Relief Act was by far the most controversial however. It distributed millions of government dollars to American families that were unemployed. In doing this however it gave those with no means of survival a chance at finding work and with a means of providing food for their loved ones until that work could be found. It pinpointed the overall gesture of FDR’s idea, that the government should not be out to make life more difficult for the people, but to provide for the people when the conditions in which they are living are substandard. He also went forward with repealing prohibition. This was another large step for Americans because it took the alcohol trade out of the hands of criminals and organized crime, and then put it back into the hands of the American government with taxes placed upon it. As war began across the Atlantic, Roosevelt also took measures to maintain the historic American isolationist spirit. He passed the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936 and 1937 in order to give us a stance of just that, neutrality. It barred trade with warring nations and made it illegal for Americans to be on a vessel of a nation at war. This received much controversy as it limited one of the principles of America, freedom of the seas. Some of these did work somewhat counterproductively, but it was the only way to keep America out of the war for as long as possible. On top of all of this FDR even suggested a second Bill of Rights for the American people to protect worker’s rights. These rights were as follows: The right to have a job in one of Americas industries; the right to a fair wage for food, clothing, and recreation; the right for a farmer to sell his crops at a reasonable and family sustainable price; the right of all business people to trade without fear of monopolies; the right to a decent home; the right to proper healthcare; government aid in old age, sickness or unemployment; and most importantly, the right to a proper education. This was never seen through as he proposed it in 1944 and died in 1945 but it certainly shows the ambitions of our 32nd president.
Roosevelt’s Congressional Relationship
Roosevelt had the luxury of enjoying a Democratic majority in Congress for the entirety of his presidency. They supported almost all of his endeavors and made it possible for many of the social programs he suggested to be realized. This is very clearly reflected in the Hundred Days Congress when many of the initial New Deal Programs were passed. Most of FDR’s opposition came from a conservative Supreme Court. So radical had they become at one point, that Roosevelt suggested adding additional members for all of the older members. Although this measure was declined it brought the issue into light and the Supreme Court began to become more lenient towards Roosevelt’s suggestions. Besides that however Roosevelt’s Congress was practically his. He had much support from Congress and the people were for the most part happy with the measures that were passed. Roosevelt’s pen had seen 635 bills by the time he passed away.
Positive and Negative Impacts of the Roosevelt Administration
There were very few negative impacts of the Roosevelt administration. It started the rise out of the Great Depression and aided all of those in the country that were feeling it the hardest. He passed legislation to help all of those in need and made a serious impact on the people of this country and presidencies for the next 40 years until Reagan destroyed the memory. He helped reinvent the faith of the people in government and fought the oppressive capitalist machine that had sent the economy into the plummet that it was now feeling. He employed millions, helped the economy and guided us through the vast majority of the Second World War. One of the largest impacts he made for posterity was the Social Security Act helping those over 65 with federal aid. This is starting to die out now, but it still exists.
Conclusion
Roosevelt did everything he could to aid the American people and guided us through the most troubling of times. He paved a new road for the workers and gave them the ability to survive in a country that was not providing for them. He was the ideal president for this era in American history, and from the time of his inauguration gave his entire life to the role of president. In full, I reaffirm that Roosevelt deserves an A+ as the 32nd president of the United States of America.
Bibliography
Leuchtenburg, William. "American President An Online Reference Resource". Miller Center of Public Affairs. 5/14/10 <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/fdroosevelt>.
Kennedy, David M. Cohen, Lizabeth Bailey, Thomas A.. The American Pageant. Boston: Houghon Mifflin, 2002.
"American Presidents Life Portraits". Miller Center of Public Affairs. 5/15/10 <http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=31>.
"Why did FDR's Bank Holiday Succeed". The Free Library. 5/15/10 <http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Why+did+FDR%27s+Bank+Holiday+succeed%3F-a0214094791>.
Sklar, Rachel. "FDR's Second Bill of Rights". Mediaite. 5/16/10 <http://www.mediaite.com/columnists/fdrs-second-bill-of-rights/>.